Great Glenbard South start thwarts Marmion
Even after Glenbard South scored the first 11 points of Wednesday's Class 3A regional semifinal, the host Raiders knew Marmion wouldn't let them coast.
"Oh yeah, they're always a tough team every time we play them," Raiders senior Tim Marks said. "We played them early in the season and they were just as physical."
The Cadets kept trying to come back, but the Raiders never let them get closer than 4 points, winning 68-53 to advance to Friday's boys basketball regional final against Burlington Central in Glen Ellyn.
"We haven't played since last week so we've been really hyped in practice all week, really focused and really looking forward to coming out," said Marks, who got the Raiders (18-9) off to that great start with a 3-pointer. "The playoffs are a whole different atmosphere."
The Cadets (13-16) cut the lead to 18-12 by the end of the first quarter thanks to senior Hunter Weber's 8 points in the period. They cut the margin to 4 in the second quarter, but Glenbard South responded and led by 8 at halftime.
"They kind of changed the speed of the game, and I think that's the reason they cut it so close," Marks said. "We just kind of got together, told each other we've got to relax and keep our composure. That's what did it for us."
The Raiders built the lead to 49-33 midway through the third quarter on a Billy Bair putback, but Marmion scored the next 8 points.
"That's what this group does," Cadets coach Joe Currie said. "They battle and battle for 32 minutes. We know that teams make runs. We had a hard time getting a couple of things to fall early."
Threatened again, Glenbard South responded again. A Povilas Riauba 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer put Glenbard South ahead 53-41. The Raiders then scored the first 5 points of the fourth quarter to provide themselves some breathing room.
"That 3 at the end of the third quarter really put them in a zone where we had to get after it and take some gambles and see what was going to happen," Currie said. "They're good. Their inside game is very strong."
"They never let up," Raiders coach Wade Hardtke added about the Cadets. "They kept coming all the way through, and we kept weathering the storm."
Charlie Bair led all scorers with 22 points, adding 7 rebounds. Riauba scored 14 off the bench, and Billy Bair added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Marks finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists.
"We all stepped up tonight," Hardtke said. "Charlie on the points side. (Guard Jonathan) Walker did a great job defensively controlling them on the 3-point line. Everybody stepped up big tonight in some way, shape or form."
Weber finished with 13 points for the Cadets, who also got 11 from Josh Ruddy and 10 from Matt Fletcher.
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